The next series of Celebrity Big Brother will explore how women interact first before being joined by male housemates in what is set to make for fascinating viewing.

The CBB house will be filled with female celebrities in 2018 to mark 100 years since women won the right to vote, reports the MEN.

And the rumour mill is whirring with speculation over who might be about to follow in the footsteps of this summer’s winner Sarah Harding, from Stockport.

There isn’t long to wait because the ground-breaking series will be back on our screens straight after Christmas on Tuesday, January 2, at 9pm on Channel 5 - hardly enough time for the celebs to have finished the leftover turkey and Quality Street.

But who is rumoured to be making their grand entrance on the night for a stint in the Borehamwood Bunker?

Laura Simpson

(Image: ITV)

Lettings agent Laura was with the former Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney when he was arrested for drink driving in September near his home in Prestbury.

After facing a media firestorm broke her silence to speak out on This Morning about her night out with the Everton ace.

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She said about Wayne: “He’s made silly and selfish mistakes, some he’s learnt from, some obviously not.”

According to a source the emotional post was “part of Wayne’s punishment.”

Nikki Sanderson

Bury actress Nikki plays fan favourite Maxine Minniver in the Channel Four soap Hollyoaks and she played bubbly hairdresser Candice Stowe in Coronation Street from 1999 to 2005.

Nikki, whose Hollyoaks character Maxine has been at the centre of the drama in the show with harrowing storylines including domestic violence and being framed for the murder of her dying husband Patrick Blake, also played Dawn Bellamy in Heartbreat and showed off her singing skills on the X Factor spin-off show Battle Of The Stars and Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes.

Nikki, 33, is dating businessman Greg Whitehurst.

Shobna Gulati

Shobna, 51, from Oldham, played Anita in the much-loved Victoria Wood comedy Dinnerladies and tragic Sunita Alahan in Coronation Street.

The actress has already denied that she is entering the CBB house - but fans have said she would definitely get their vote.